Theories of

Learning
 Definitions: Learning is:

1. “a persisting change in human

performance or performance
potential . . . (brought) about as a
result of the learner’s interaction with
the environment” (Driscoll, 1994, pp. 8-9)
2. “the relatively permanent change in
a person’s knowledge or behavior
due to experience” (Mayer, 1982, p. 1040).
3. “an enduring change in behavior, or
in the capacity to behave in a given
fashion, which results from practice or
other forms of experience” (Shuell, 1986, p.
412).
Behaviorism
Confined to observable and measurable
behavior

 Classical Conditioning - Pavlov

 Operant Conditioning - Skinner

 Classical Conditioning - Pavlov

A stimulus is presented
in order to get a response:

S R
 Classical Conditioning - Pavlov

S US
UR

CS US

CR
1. The unconditioned stimulus is one that
unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers
a response.

2. The unconditioned response is the unlearned

response that occurs naturally in response to the
unconditioned stimulus.

3. The conditioned stimulus is previously neutral stimulus

that, after becoming associated with the
unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a
conditioned response.

4. The conditioned response is the learned response to

the previously neutral stimulus.
 It is summer time. Sarah and Jeremy are in
love. They enjoy being together and are
thoroughly relaxed and content in each other's
presence. The hit song that summer is "Buckets
of Love" and they hear that song a lot when
they are together. At the end of the summer
they have to return to their separate colleges,
which are quite far apart. That fall, every time
Sarah hears the tune "Buckets of Love" she
experiences the same feelings of relaxation and
contentment that she felt when she was with
Jeremy.
 Until she was 8, Barbara liked cats. When she
was 8 she was bitten through the hand by a
cat as she tried to get it out from under a bed.
This was an upsetting experience. Since that
time, Barbara experiences anxiety whenever
she is near a cat.
 Operant Conditioning - Skinner

The response is made first,

then reinforcement follows.
Behaviorism
 Learning
is defined by the outward expression
of new behaviors

 Focuses solely on observable behaviors

A biological basis for learning

 Learning is context-independent

 Classical & Operant Conditioning

 Reflexes (Pavlov’s Dogs)
 Feedback/Reinforcement (Skinner’s Pigeon
Box)
Behaviorism in the
Classroom
 Rewardsand
punishments

 Responsibility
for
student learning rests
squarely with the
teacher

 Lecture-based,
highly structured
Critiques of Behaviorism
 Does not account for processes taking place
in the mind that cannot be observed

 Advocatesfor passive student learning in a

teacher-centric environment

 One size fits all

 Knowledge itself is given and absolute

 Programmed instruction & teacher-proofing

Social Learning Theory (SLT)
 Grew out of Cognitivism

 A. Bandura (1973)

 Learning takes place through observation and

sensorial experiences

 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

 SLTis the basis of the movement against

violence in media & video games
Learning From Models -
Albert Bandura
1. Attend to pertinent clues
2. Code for memory (store a visual
image)
3. Retain in memory
4. Accurately reproduce the
observed activity
5. Possess sufficient motivation to
apply new learning
Four interrelated processes establish and
strengthen identification with the model:

1. Children want to be like the model

2. Children believe they are like the
model
3. Children experience emotions like
those the model is feeling.
4. Children act like the model.
SLT in the Classroom
 Collaborative
learning
and group work

 Modeling
responses
and expectations

 Opportunities
to
observe experts in
action
Critiques of Social Learning
Theory
 Does not take into account individuality,
context, and experience as mediating factors

 Suggests students learn best as passive

receivers of sensory stimuli, as opposed to
being active learners

 Emotions and motivation not considered

important or connected to learning